Keith Farrand
Contact: info@farrandfarms.com
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Want to keep up on the latest things that are growing on at Farrand Farms? The man with the greenest thumb in Kansas City will help you with all his latest tips and share insight and info right here at Farrand's Notes. If you have some special questions or would like to suggest ideas for Keith to address just send him an email on the link under his picture.
Already time to plant the fall garden!
Keith
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Monday, August 15, 2011
Folks,
Now is the time to get started on planting your fall garden. This week, the weather has improved and seems like paradise when compared to a week earlier. This is a great time to involve the kids and grandkids in a fun learning experience.
By this weekend (August 21), you should plant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and collard plants. They grow fast now and are ready to harvest in October. Since they finish when temperatures are cooler, they are the most tender and flavorful of the year. Be sure to add a bag of cotton burr compost to renew and improve your garden soil. Teaching children to renew the soil is a great learning opportunity for them.
It's also time to plant seed crops that do well in the fall. Favorites include turnips (both for greens and bottoms), mustard greens, radishes and spinach. Remember that spinach will easily overwinter and provide a tasty treat in late February and early March.
Speaking of spinach, I must let you know that we have discovered a fantastic variety that is great in Kansas City throughout the summer and fall. 'Malabar' is a vining spinach reaching up to 5 ft. The edible leaves stay shiny and green and the stems maintain a rich purple color. 'Malabar' stays tender and healthy throughout our punishing midwest summers. This is a MUST for next spring!
It's also time to be thinking about fall flowers. You'll appreciate the opportunity to refresh those tired and heat stressed annuals. We'll soon have fall pansies and colorful mums to help build spirits!
Here's a good tip if you are growing strawberries:
*Fertilize them now with Hummert's 12-8-8 granular fertilizer. They are deciding right now how many berries they are going to bear next spring. Remember to mulch them with straw around mid-December. Straw will protect them through the winter and also keep the berries nice and clean when you pick them.
It's nearly time to get grass seed planted and fertilized. Let us help you do it right. Farrand Farms carries fresh Hummert grass seed as well as all the Hummert fertilizers to get it going.
Thank you for helping make our 2011 Tomato Fair a resounding success. Jasper was great! Larry Moore offered awesome tips. The Herb Lady, Lenora Wuattoux, was inspirational and creative. Our chefs Aubrey and Chris were well appreciated. Thanks to the Boy Scout Troop 469, Girl Scout Troop 5042 and all of our friends who helped make it a great experience.
I'll be back to visit in a couple of weeks. Until then, have a great time in the garden!
Keith
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